Instead of sparkling: how to choose beer for the New Year's table
Pouring champagne at the chimes is certainly a tradition, but if sparkling wines are not your story, you can find a worthy alternative. Good beer will look just as festive in glasses, and with the right choice — will also make a harmonious pair with your favorite dishes. We tell you how to choose beer for the New Year’s table to make the holiday a real success.
Olivier
This salad is a must in any house, even if there are exquisite appetizers around. All families prepare Olivier in different ways — for example, add chicken instead of sausage or green apple. But one thing remains the same — mayonnaise, which gives the salad a recognizable taste and texture.
It is no coincidence that Olivier is drunk with champagne — the acidity of sparkling wine balances the aftertaste of mayonnaise. Therefore, the main salad of the New Year’s table should be chosen from the same considerations. Beer varieties with soft malt notes — lagers, wheat varieties with a pronounced «bread» flavor — are best suited. On the contrary, strongly hopped beer is not suitable for olivier — its bitterness will only intensify the oily flavor.
Herring under a fur coat
Another famous New Year’s salad, which seems to have always been with us, but in fact appeared on the tables of the inhabitants of the USSR only in the sixties. Its emergence and further popularity is connected with the availability of the main ingredient — Baltic herring. And where there is herring, there is vodka, so many people still prefer to wash down the salad with it. And they do it wrong: forty degrees of vodka wipes out the whole flavor bouquet of the dish.
It is better to serve herring under a fur coat with beer — IPA or stoned lager. A beer with a pronounced bitterness will help to balance the flavor of the salad, make you feel all its layers, and then combine them together, leaving a pleasant aftertaste.
Red caviar sandwiches
The ideal combination for caviar is champagne or sweet wines with high acidity, which complement its flavor and texture well. True, we are talking about caviar in its pure form, because in combination with bread it changes, becoming both sweet and salty at the same time.
That’s why we recommend to serve beer with caviar sandwiches this New Year’s Eve — and compare the sensations. Choose light Belgian ale — you won’t go wrong.
Tangerines
Favorite winter citrus have a pronounced sweetness and high acidity. Therefore, it is better to pair them with «heavy» beer without pronounced bitterness.
Belgian golden ale will help to emphasize the bright acidity of the fruit without interrupting its flavor. If you want something more original, try Belgian Quadrupel: you will get a familiar combination of citrus and chocolate.
And if you don’t have time to think about it, choose any light lager or pilsner — fresh sorts of beer will help unobtrusively shade the taste of tangerines and balance its sweetness.
Want more interesting combinations of beer with your favorite dishes? Come to any Lambic beer restaurant — we will advise you on varieties, choose the perfect gastronomic pairing and share the New Year mood with you!
The strongest beers: what to try
Beer is considered to be a light drink - you can drink a lot of it and hardly get tipsy. But this is true only for non-strength varieties. Meanwhile, there are some that can easily give a head start to both vodka and whiskey. Let's tell you more about them! World leaders Brewmeister Snake Venom (67.5%) Scottish ale called “snake venom” for its incredible strength. It is achieved by smoking peat malt, using two types of yeast and multiple freezing. Despite the high concentration of alcohol, the beer is characterized by softness, retaining hop aroma and malt bitterness. Price - more than 6000 rubles. Used in cocktails. Brewdog Strength in Numbers (57.8%) The result of a collaboration between BrewDog and Schorschbräu, who created the beer using the “Icebock” method (freezing and clearing of ice). Additional strength was provided by a 10-year-old whisky. It was released in a limited edition at a price of $40 for 50 ml. Brewmeister Armageddon (65%) Scottish beer made from crystal malt, oats, wheat and spring water. The strength is achieved thanks to the addition of aged whisky. Price - from 5000 rubles. Koelschip Start the Future (60%) Dutch ale obtained by the “Icebock” method. Despite the standard ingredients, the flavor turned out to be unusual - sweet-tart with soapy and peppery notes. Created as an experiment, not flavor-oriented. Price - approximately $46 for 330 ml. Schorschbrau Schorschbock 57 (57%) German ale from the famous Schorschbrau brewery, which usually produces beers with a strength of 13-16%.It is distinguished by dark amber color, oily texture and burning taste with whiskey notes. It is produced in limited batches, the price is $300 for 400 ml.Rock Bottom Campbell Beer PT's Punch (56%)A California ale with guava, orange and passion fruit. Easier to drink than its European counterparts, with a pleasant bitterness and floral notes. Unlike other experimental varieties, the drink is available in online stores for pre-order. Strong in Lambic In our country, of course, you can not drink 50-degree beer. But you can treat yourself to a strong foamy drink in any beer restaurant. At Lambic we offer several with high strength. The result of a collaboration between BrewDog and Schorschbräu, who created the beer using the “Icebock” method (freezing and clearing of ice).Additional strength was provided by a 10-year-old whisky. It is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the strongest in the world, and the high degree is achieved thanks to fermentation. We will recommend excellent gastronomic accompaniments for all varieties so that you can get a real pleasure. We look forward to seeing you!
23 April 2025
Bornem Double beer: a taste with a history
There are many special options among Belgian brews, especially when it comes to beers with a history. But Bornem Double stands out even among such stars. At the recent California Microbrew Beer Festival, this Van Steenberge Abbey draft was recognized as the best in its category. What is its charm — we will tell you in this article. Main features Bornem Double is a lively beer with a full, rich, velvety flavor that harmoniously combines fruity notes and malt sweetness. The long aftertaste reveals nuances of spices and chocolate, as well as neat hop notes. Separately it is worth talking about the aroma. It is very beautiful, with notes of milk chocolate, brown sugar, vanilla and spices. The variety is good both inside and outside — in the glass it reveals a deep dark brown color with burgundy reflections. Bornem Double is usually served with meat dishes — steaks, grill, game, sausages. Despite the rather high strength of 8%, the beer is very drinkable, and you can hardly feel alcohol in it. It is also perfect for cold seasons, as it has a warming effect. Secrets of production The history of Bornem beer began in 1957 at the Beirens brewery in the town of Wommelgem. After the brewery closed in 1971, thanks largely to the abbots of the Bornem monastery, the recipe was taken over by the Van Steenberge brewery. The beer was originally sold under the St. Bernard brand and with the monk’s image on the label. However, to avoid similarity with the St. Bernardus Watou brand, the logo was changed: an image of a heron holding a fish appeared on the label. The choice of the symbol is not accidental: the heron is a typical inhabitant of the neighborhood of Bornem, which reflects both the charm of the local fauna and the traditional culture of the region. By the way, the word «heron» is often found in the names of local bars and brasseries. The main feature of this dub is the manufacturing technology. The beer is not pasteurized, and after primary fermentation in barrels it undergoes secondary fermentation in bottles, acquiring its unique taste. You can try Bornem Double in any Lambic brasserie. In our beer restaurants you will find a large selection of varieties from all over the world, including Trappists, as well as an excellent assortment of dishes and always cozy atmosphere. Come — we will find something to surprise you!
23 April 2025